The Latest Breaking News from David Singleton

It is glamorously called, "The Road to the Final Four," but on the day UCLA received its coordinates, it was surely struck with a gritty realization.

LAS VEGAS — Adem Bona sprawled on the court, using every inch of his massive wingspan to chase a loose ball. His immediate grimace and clutching of his left shoulder while he remained down led to wincing from an entire fan base.

The Bruins, who have been in the running for a top seed in the tournament, will have a much tougher path through March Madness without their star defender.

LOS ANGELES — Jaylen Clark's lower-leg injury changes things.

LOS ANGELES — Long before the season’s first game, Mick Cronin girded himself for this night.

LOS ANGELES — For the briefest of moments as he dribbled on the wing, UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. saw an opening. A screen by teammate David Singleton had cleared a tempting path to the basket.

LOS ANGELES — Amari Bailey always lets his teammates hear it.

LOS ANGELES — It was a sneak peek that left some UCLA basketball fans covering their eyes.

LOS ANGELES — It was a get-well card to themselves, complete with hearts and smiley faces.

LOS ANGELES — The shot clock about to expire, David Singleton heaved the ball from a step or two inside of the half-court line, his effort striking the top of the backboard.

LOS ANGELES — There wouldn’t be many more shots like this. For USC, a team just rounding into form, opportunities to state its case to the NCAA tournament selection committee were so sparse from here it couldn’t afford to squander any left. Least of all against its bitter rival, UCLA,…